A Pleasant Surprise 😀

[Birdlady64]

I wasn't really expecting much from my run this morning - with only just over 4 hours sleep, the gremlins were doing their best 👿👿👿 I eventually prised myself out of bed at 6.15 - the sun not yet risen. It's amazing how the days are getting shorter! Where has summer gone to?

Anyway this one was run 3 of week 1 of the Magic Plan over on B2TK, and it was back to a mix of largely woodland paths and off road gravel trails. I definitely set off too quickly and paid for it through km 2 and 3 where my pace noticeably dropped right back. However I managed to pick up the pace again over the last 2k and managed to shave another 37 seconds off my 5k PB.😁

But at 41.02, I'm still searching for that sub 40 minute 5k and reckon my 10k time is currently heading for about an hour and a half!

But you know what - it doesn't matter. In April I struggled to run for 60 seconds and here I am, having managed to run for 60 minutes non-stop, and working towards my first 10k 😁

So anyone out there who thinks they are too slow, or won't reach 5k by graduation, or during consolidation - don't worry. Just relax, enjoy your running, remember where you started from and reflect on how much you have achieved! 👍💪

Happy running everyone 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[RacingintheStreet Graduate]

Great post and advice , the very thought of running for 60 minutes 🥴

Anyway Im plodding on and enjoying it but I know my pace is erratic and I pay for it if I start off with gusto 😂😂 trying hard to go slower with some degree of consistency .

Happy days ! And yes the daylight is disappearing on us ☺️

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to RacingintheStreet]

Thanks

Keep on plodding away and you will be surprised at what you can achieve 😁

[Instructor57 Graduate]

A good run and post ! 👍

Well done with the pb !

And yes, you have already done the 60 minutes, it won't be long before the 10k and the time dosent matter 😁👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks 🙏

Am pretty sure I could make 10k soon anyway, but decided to do it the slow and steady way. I'm still a bit paranoid about injury tbh.

And speed most definitely isn't everything.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

I can certainly relate to how you feel about the injury !

I reckon I am now just about back to normal after 2 months

[nowster Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Ouch! That's a long time. Let's see what the physio I've booked on Friday morning says. No idea who I'm getting. It's a firm with a chain of branches across Manchester and West Yorkshire.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to nowster]

I was of course running again after 16 days but it's taken until now to feel back to pre injury .

Good luck with your appointment !

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Good luck! Hopefully you will see someone who knows something about running

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

It never really leaves you ...

I'm certainly way past that age where you feel invincible 😂

At least you are feeling you are almost past all that 😁👍

I just wish I had figured out the knack of pacing myself in the way you have

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Not too sure I've figured it out ! I'm possibly too slow on the first few splits , but I guess it will take time to fine tune it 😁

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Indeed

We are all learning and trying to be the best we can be

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Absolutely ! 👍

[nowster Graduate]

Factoid: around the Autumn equinox (which we're rapidly approaching) the sunset becomes earlier by about 2 minutes per day (and sunrise becomes later by a similar amount).

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yes - it will be lighter in the mornings for a while😁

But the days are getting shorter ☹️

[running2feelGr8]

I needed this today after a tough run- thank you for the positivity 💪

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to running2feelGr8]

Thanks

I'm only too pleased if this manages to give someone a lift

[acountrycabbage Graduate]

Wow.. this was great to read. Well done and thanks for sharing 🙌🏼

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you!

[MccHa Graduate]

Well done Birdlady64 👏👏👏

You doing great 👍

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to MccHa]

Thank you!

I feel much better about my running now that I have a plan

[SmilelikeImeanIt Graduate]

Great post! Well done on the running. I’m very slow, only do 3k in the 30 mins. But as you say, couldn’t run for 60 seconds in January so 30 slow mins is great. I’m mixing in 20 min runs where I try and go a bit faster on the second half. Really enjoy them more than the longer runs.

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to SmilelikeImeanIt]

Thanks

I think mixing it up a bit is a good thing to do as it keeps it interesting.

I think I prefer longer slower runs tbh - they seem to suit me more

[BonniesRest Graduate]

Aah! Well done! Thankyou for your lovely post! I managed 5k in 41 minutes on Sunday and having been basking in the glory ever since! Never dreamed I could do it. Your post couldn’t have come on a better day as I barely slept last night and have not been able to think about running yet as no sleep really gets to me! So that is so brilliant that you got out there and did it! I want and need to run so need to find a way to do that even when sleep has been elusive. Thanks for posting such an upbeat piece, it helps!

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to BonniesRest]

😁😁😁

Congratulations 👏👏👏

It's hard sometimes I know. It was the same when I was swimming before my morning commute into London. Especially on those cold dark winter mornings. But I can honestly say I have never ever felt worse for getting up and out there.

It's a mental battle for sure. Do as much or as little as you feel like, but the important thing is to make the effort.

[BonniesRest Graduate in reply to Birdlady64]

Thankyou - I really want to, so will keep on keeping on! 🌞

[Femai in reply to Birdlady64]

Like that too!

[Sweet_pea Graduate]

Such an uplifting message! Thank you! And well done!

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to Sweet_pea]

Thanks very much 🙂

It's just so great to be running

[HarrietW88]

Fantastic post!

[Birdlady64 Graduate in reply to HarrietW88]

Thank you!

[Femai]

Oh yeah like the sound of that reflect on how much you have acived! Will do that for my walking!